crimp

1 of 4

verb (1)

ˈkrimp 

crimped; crimping; crimps

transitive verb

1

: to cause to become wavy, bent, or pinched: such as

a

: to form (leather) into a desired shape

b

: to give (synthetic fibers) a curl or wave like that of natural fibers

c

: to pinch or press together (something, such as the margins of a pie crust) in order to seal

2

: to be an inhibiting or restraining influence on : cramp

sales had been crimped by credit controls

—Time

crimper

ˈkrim-pər 

noun

crimp

2 of 4

noun (1)

1

: something produced by or as if by crimping: such as

a

: a section of hair artificially waved or curled

b

: a succession of waves (as in wool fiber)

c

: a bend or crease formed in something

2

: something that cramps or inhibits : restraint, curb

crimp

3 of 4

noun (2)

: a person who entraps or forces men into shipping as sailors or into enlisting in an army or navy

crimp

4 of 4

verb (2)

crimped; crimping; crimps

transitive verb

: to trap into military or sea service : impress

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• furrow
• crease

Examples of crimp in a Sentence

Noun (1)

a small crimp in the dollar bill prevented it from being accepted by the bill changer

made a tiny little crimp in the corner of the Queen of Spades

the strike could put a real crimp in the production schedule

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Unlike the state of things in mid-2021—when crimps in the semiconductor supply chain cropped up in big ways—supply and demand have become much less of a mismatch. —IEEE Spectrum, 28 Mar. 2023

The loading pattern shown in H. naledi is typical of a very specific type of grip still used today – the crimp grip. —Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 15 May 2025

Verb

And, as Anna says, the way a person crimped the edges of their pie dough was like their signature; no two are the same. —Carolynn Carreño, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2025

Another potential snag: The individual emirates regulate private school fees, which could crimp profitability. —Anu Raghunathan, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Dutch or Low German krimpen to shrivel; akin to Middle Dutch crampe hook, cramp

Noun (2)

perhaps from crimp entry 1

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1712, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

1782, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1718, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1789, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing crimp

• put a crimp in

Rhymes for crimp

• blimp
• chimp
• imp
• limp
• pimp
• shrimp
• skimp
• wimp

Kids Definition

crimp

1 of 2 verb

ˈkrimp 

1

: to make wavy or bent

2

: to pinch or press together

crimp the edges of a pie crust

crimp

2 of 2 noun

1

: something produced by or as if by crimping

2

: something that holds back